Rosemaling Classes
Growing the art of Norwegian rosemaling, one class at a time.
Rosemaling Resources
Rosemaling Painting Supplies
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Here are a few good sources for common rosemaling supplies with partial lists of what they offer.
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Blick Art Supplies - Rembrandt and Grumbacher oil paints and more, Golden Acrylics and more, acrylic and oil mediums, palette paper, transfer paper, palette knives, brush cleaners, all sorts of painting and art supplies
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Jerry's Artorama - Rembrandt and Grumbacher oil paints and more, Golden Acrylics and more, acrylic and oil mediums, palette paper, transfer paper, palette knives, brush cleaners, all sorts of painting and art supplies
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Cheap Joe's - Golden acrylic paints, Rembrandt, Grumbacher oil paints, oil and acrylic mediums, Loew Cornell round and filbert brushes, KingArt liners, palette paper, transfer paper, palette knives, brush cleaners, all sorts of painting and art supplies
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Viking Woodcrafts - The largest supplier of decorative painting and tole books, pattern packets, paint, brushes, unfinished wood, other purfaces, supplies, and accessories for the decorative artist.
Woodenware Resources
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Craft Supply House - small wood items, candlesticks, small boxes, wooden ornaments
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Creative Woodworks - chests, jewelry boxes, frames, boxes, lap desks, napkin holders, and more
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DePalmas Custom Woodcraft - boxes, plates
Dufeck Wood Products - cheese boxes, tool boxes, trays, bread boards
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Heirlooms of the Heart - variety of wooden items, boxes, clocks, sleds
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Lusk Scandia Woodworks* - wide variety of unique wooden items, high quality
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Montzka Woodwork* - high quality plates, platters and bowls
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Nordic Designs - quality rosemaling woodenware, plates
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Norsk Wood Works - unique ale bowls, carved pieces, kubbestols, plate racks and valances
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Palette and Sawdust - small wooden boxes, a few unique items, cutouts
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Pinecraft - variety of wooden items, ornaments, plates, JoSonja paints
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Tomorrow's Collectibles - tines, trays, catch-alls, forks, spoons, ale bowls, covered bowls and other unique items
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Turn of the Century Wood Products - plates, signs, mangle boards, ornaments, cutting boards, and patterns
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Ultimate Woodworking - Classic Norwegian items, tines, ambars, tankards, bentwood boxes
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Vesterheim Norwegian-American Gift Shop* - variety of wooden ware, specialty pieces, ornaments, also have paints and brushes, but may be limited in options
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Viking Wood Crafts - variety of wooden items
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Wood Things - located in Canada, cutout/laser items, ornaments, variety of shapes
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*RosemalingClasses recommended
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Rosemaling Patterns and Books
Ingebretson's Nordic Marketplace
Sons of Norway Cultural Skills
Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum Gift Shop
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Online Rosemaling Resources
There are a number of online resources for rosemalers to share information. Here's a list of some of the more popular online locations.
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Rosemalers look to the old for inspiration.
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Facebook groups (look these groups up on Facebook and request access to the group)
Rosemaling Group
Rosemaling Buy, Sell and Trade Group
Brushes to the Wall Rosemaling Group
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YouTube Rosemaling Channels
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YouTube Video Suggestions
Telemark Bowl by Gayle Oram, VGM
JoSonja Round and Short Liner Brushes
JoSonja - Varnishes Part 1 (water-based)
JoSonja - Varnishes Part 2 (water-based)
JoSonja - Varnishes Part 3 (water-based)
JoSonja - Retarder (acrylic) (water-based)
JoSonja - Setting up your (acrylic) palette
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Instagram Suggestions
Rosemaling_Classes
ArtofLise
Turidfatland
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Background Paints in Common Rosemaling colors - These lists are incomplete and always changing as companies add and discontinue colors.
These are commonly used background colors. Most can be used directly from the bottle/tube, but some rosemalers may mix colors to achieve the desired shade. For more conversations about colors and paints, check out to the Rosemaling Forum.
Ceramcoat
Georgia Clay
Midnight Dream
Midnight Blue
Dark Victorian Teal
Sandstone
Pine Green
Black
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DecoArt Americana
Black Green
Soft Black
Lamp (Ebony) Black
Georgia Clay
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DecoArt Traditions
Medium White
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JoSonya Paints
Galaxy Blue
Norwegian Orange
Red Earth
Storm Blue
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Paint Brushes
Originally, rosemalers would have made their own paint brushes from sticks and hair/fur/bristles. These would have been in a round shape. Luckily, rosemalers no longer need to make their own brushes. Instead, you can take advantage of consistently produced brushes in a variety of styles.
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There are four basic brush styles - flat, filbert, round, and liner. Often the brush a rosemaler selects is based on personal preference, and can vary from style-to-style.
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Flat - Commonly used when the artist is wanting broad strokes or wanting to achieve shaded stokes by sideloading the brush.
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Filbert - Similar to the Flat brush, but with rounded end for a softer-looking stroke.
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Round - The most all-round paint brush, capable of doing most all strokes.
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Liner - Producing the fine detail found in rosemaling. Used in combination with any of the above brushes.
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Most rosemaling instructors will provide students with the brush to be used in class. Don't be surprised if you are asked to have a couple different brush styles and sizes. A commonly called-out brush brand is KingArt, with Golden Taklon bristles. Golden Taklon provides the proper "give" (not too hard, and not too soft) in order to produce beautiful rosemaling. There are other brands that make brushes with Golden Taklon, such as JoSonja brand, among others.
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Liners, aka scrip liners, are important brushes that do the fine linework. Liners come in long, medium, or short length bristles. Short liners may be easier for beginners, but in order to do long strokes a longer bristled liner will be preferred. Practice with both to achieve the desired result. Common liner brands are made by JoSonja and KingArt.